Normal learning activities at the University of Liberia (UL) Fendell Campus were disrupted on Monday, January 21, 2013 by several protesting students of the university. The UL Fendell Campus is situated outside Monrovia. The protesting students stormed various classes during the early morning hours of Monday in protest against an announced increment in the fees of credit hours by the administration of the university.

It can be recalled that recently, the President of the UL, Dr. Emmet Dennis, announced the increment in the fees of credit hours from LD$175 per credit hour to US$5. Dr. Dennis made the announcement during the university graduation ceremony held at the Samuel Kanyan Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville, outside Monrovia.

The protesting students were seen chanting slogans like: “It will not hold, Dr. Dennis your plan failed” amongst others while moving violently to various classes. The incident forced several students as well as lecturers to vacate the premises of the campus sooner than usual.

Speaking in an interview with this paper, some of the protesting students said the decision taken by the university has the propensity to put a “potential number of students out of classes during the next semester.” According to them, the announced increment in the fees of credit hours at the state-owned university would help to undermine Government’s efforts to provide affordable and quality education to its citizens.

They described as “unacceptable” the announced increment in the fees of credit hours by the administration. The aggrieved students reminded the UL President that his legacies at the state-run university would be “tainted” if fees for credit hours are increased.

The protesting students then vowed to continue their protest action if nothing is done by the university’s administration to address their concern.

Meanwhile, up to press time, the administration of the UL could not be reached for comments regarding the matter.

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